SAAD Digest 

March 2026
Volume: 42
Issue: 1
DOI: 10.63507/ROAC1804

Title: A retrospective analysis of the waiting times for a general anaesthetic for paediatric patients at Croydon University Hospital, a service provided by the special care community dental services- King's College Hospital

Author(s): S. Shao

Abstract:
Introduction
General anaesthetic (GA) is a technique that can be used to manage dental anxiety in paediatric patients. The COVID-19 pandemic halted the use of certain treatments and caused a backlog in patients waiting for their treatment. 

Objectives
This service evaluation reviewed the number of GA sessions provided by Croydon University Hospital (CUH), the number of patients treated and the waiting time for a dental GA, comparing the results from April 2019 to March 2020, April 2021 to March 2022 and April 2022 to March 2023, and assessing how these elements have been affected since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Method
Data was collected retrospectively, encompassing all scheduled GAs provided by the community dental service at CUH from April 2019 to March 2023.

Results
A total of 139 patients were treated under GA in 2019-20. This number decreased to 65 in 2021-22, a 53% decrease, and increased in 2022-23 from 2021-22 by 11% to 72 patients. The number of GA sessions provided was 48 in 2019-20. This reduced by 38% (30 sessions) in 2021-22, whilst 32 sessions were provided in 2022-23. All patients treated over the three-year period were classified as ASA I or ASA II. The longest waiting time was 53 weeks in 2019-20, 123 weeks in 2021-22, and 141 weeks in 2022-23. The number of patients treated within the 18-week target was 57 out of 149 (38%) in 2019-20, 5 out of 75 (<1%) in 2021-22, and 20 out of 79 (25%) in 2022–23.

Conclusions
Although the COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted service provision, leading to a reduction in the number of sessions and patients treated, along with a marked increase in waiting times, the demand for dental GA is still present.

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Articles from Digest 42(I)